Southern California -- this just in

Balboa Peninsula to get park, upgrades after what some residents saw as a long wait

June 26, 2011 | 4:12
pm

With new park and infrastructure projects planned, the Balboa Peninsula may see an infusion of funds during the next fiscal year. The largest chunk of Newport Beach's $57-million capital-improvement budget is slated for that area, according to an analysis by the Daily Pilot.

Peninsula residents have complained for years that the city has neglected their part of town — the historic heart of Newport Beach — as the Irvine Co. developed Newport Coast and cultural, commercial and governing institutions concentrated in Newport Center. Now, with core public-works projects and new parks planned for west Newport, some people are glad to see the city turning its attention.

Some projects are large — like $9 million for the Marina Park development and $2.2 million for pavement rehabilitation on Bay Avenue — and some are small, such as $100,000 to replace the pumps and motors at the 16th Street water station.

Marina Park is a 10-acre project between 15th and 19th streets with a proposed community center, park and marina.